BUCKFIELD — What do you do when you have to highly qualified, quality candidates and only one open position to offer them?
Buckfield selectmen experienced that dilemma at their regular meeting on February 3 when they tried to fill a vacant position on the planning board.
The opening became available when planning board member Warren Wright tendered his resignation, which the selectmen accepted "with regret" at their meeting on January 20.
Town Manager Cynthia Dunn subsequently posted the position vacancy, seeking a citizen to fill out Wright's term, which will end in June 2005.
Two applications were received, one from Roberta Hill, the other from Richard Piper.
Hill was unable to attend the meeting due to family commitments, however current planning board member Margot Siekman did speak on her behalf.
"I've known here for four or five years now," said Siekman. "She has been in environmental education and land use planning for all of her career, which is probably about 15 years now."
"I have used her in [answering] questions that I have had from the planning board many times, whenever questions come up about land use, or that involve water quality, and I feel that I do not have the expertise [to answer].
"I feel that this is a tremendous opportunity for us to get someone on the board who really, really knows about water quality issues in regard to land use and who also is a wonderful public speaker, a good writer, and who, I think, has many, many assets and who would make a tremendous addition to the planning board.
"She is very knowledgeable in subdivision law because she has been involved in, as a consultant, in many subdivision situations where she is called in on water quality issues," Siekman added.
Piper then mentioned a few of his own qualifications.
"I've got considerable experience in a lot of things you're looking for, including I've built quite a few subdivisions in Scarborough, so I'm quite familiar with the laws," he stated. "And also I've done major highway work."
Piper also commended on his being a proponent of zoning.
"Here's an example," he said, referring to Buckfield's current ongoing troubles with illegal automobile graveyards.
"Do you see any $300,000 to $500,000 houses in Buckfield? Do you see any light industry in Buckfield? Without that kind of zoning you're not going to increase your tax base."
Selectmen reviewed both applications and found themselves at a standstill.
"You're both very much qualified. I wouldn't mind seeing both of you on there," said Chairman Lawrence "Skip" Stanley.
"Their resumes are good," agreed Selectman Oscar Gammon. "Trouble is, we've got two instead of one."
"They are both good, fine candidates. I think they would both do a good job on that board, provide good input," said Dunn.
Feeling that both candidates were equal, and with only two selectmen present — Selectman Joanne Bly was absent — it was decided to make the decision utilizing a blind draw.
Stanley wrote both names on separate slips of paper and shook them up in his hands. After releasing them onto the table, Gammon chose one at random.
"This is how the big cities do it," joked Stanley as he unfolded the chosen slip and read the name.
And so it was that Roberta Hill was appointed to the Buckfield Planning Board.
But Buckfield citizens will not miss out on Piper's experience and willingness to serve his community because he was then appointed to fill a vacant spot on the road committee.
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